SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHILD

Mom's explanation to Peter of why she is his ""real"" mother and why the mother he ""came out of"" might have decided to give him up is the sort of articulate and loving reassurance other parents of adopted children might wish they could come up with on their own. Assuming they can't, they might be able to get away with passing on this slight story, about Peter's admiration for Puddin' Paint, the friendly schoolbus driver, who first hurts him by remarking, offhandedly, that he doesn't believe in adoption and then, through his concern for two lost pet dogs, teaches that strong feelings aren't limited to natural parents and their babies. A purely didactic exercise--it's hard to imagine anyone who isn't adopted identifying with Peter's distress--but one that's thoughtfully and affectionately constructed.